left behind a five year old son. Best cup finish was 10th at Homestead in his rookie season in 2001. Also had a pole that year at Kansas. Raced but 73 times in the Cup series, but really was a racer's racer. Kind of a Kenny Schrader type - race anywhere anyhow, no matter how big or small a stage.

Truex leads the most laps and wins at Sonoma, his first win in 218 races, dating back to the Spring Dover race driving for DEI in 2007. 2nd longest drought between wins, just 8 shy of Bill Elliott's streak of 226 (1994 to 2001, snapped at Homestead, when he won from the pole in the #9 Dodge for Ray Evernham, passing teammate Casey Atwood with 5 to go).

shafnutz05 wrote:Very refreshing to see Vickers win yesterday...he's been through a lot, was one of the most gratifying victories I've seen in a while. Certainly beats watching the 48 win again.

Vickers had been almost 4 years, albeit only 75 starts, since his last win (running for Red Bull at Michigan in August 2009). It's a good story, and puts the 55 team in the owners' chase (2nd wildcard slot).

Vickers looked great. Apparently, Aaron's is the holdup in him getting the 55 full-time ride, although Childers said "it was a done deal" when interviewed.

KuBu was the class of the field, but idiotically took it three wide, lost some wind from Kenseth's car, and took out Newman, who himself had been having a pretty bad week. That's too bad for Kurt. He should be in the Chase field right now. Aside from being 9th coming in and running up front all day, he also has 2-3 DNFs where he was also running up front. That man can wheel the car. I hope he makes the Chase.

Meanwhile, Newman tried to wreck Kyle right before the incident with Kurt but missed. I shouted it when I saw it on TV. After the race, Kyle impliedly blamed Newman for the incident with Kurt and also called Newman an "idiot" and an "ogre." Newman had a bad week. He lost his job next year, but I think he should end up at Penske or RCR with Quicken loans. He's better than most of the alternatives.

Kyle is probably my Chase pick--he, Kenseth, and JJ have been the class of the field this year. As Kyle revealed in his post-race interview, he hasn't finished worse than sixth in races where hasn't wrecked or had a mechanical problem.

What a season for Hamlin. He runs the whole race a lap down after a penalty. He gets the car back into the top ten, and he and Grubb (mostly Grubb) decide to pit because they're worried about the right front. He restarts 20th than nearly kills Stewart as he's running out of gas to fall to 21. Just think: Denny nearly lapped the field at both Loudon races last year. What a change a season makes.

I wouldn't be surprised if both Outback and QuickenLoans followed Newman where he goes. Kind of like how Budweiser followed Harvick to Stewart-Haas.

There are seats open. 29 at RCR is open, though many assume Austin Dillon will come up from the Nationwide series and run the 3 in Cup. It's about time to see the 3 back on the track, IMHO. Harvick leaving provides that opportunity for the 29 to again become the 3. Will RCR do it now? That's the good question. I would think they would want a longer term commitment than a single season for someone else to fill the seat, but you never know.

The story of yesterday's race has to be the pit calls late. Those that took 4 tires never made it back up through the field. I thought the 78 or 20 would have been able to do it, but they got into each other.

relantel wrote:I wouldn't be surprised if both Outback and QuickenLoans followed Newman where he goes. Kind of like how Budweiser followed Harvick to Stewart-Haas.

There are seats open. 29 at RCR is open, though many assume Austin Dillon will come up from the Nationwide series and run the 3 in Cup. It's about time to see the 3 back on the track, IMHO. Harvick leaving provides that opportunity for the 29 to again become the 3. Will RCR do it now? That's the good question. I would think they would want a longer term commitment than a single season for someone else to fill the seat, but you never know.

The story of yesterday's race has to be the pit calls late. Those that took 4 tires never made it back up through the field. I thought the 78 or 20 would have been able to do it, but they got into each other.

Indeed, Quicken will not be back with SHR. They've also increased their presence---they advertise a lot on commercial in addition to the 18 races on Newman's car. There is at least one seat open at RCR, but Austin looks like he'll get it but struggle like Stenhouse. That leaves a 4th seat at RFR, JGR, RCR, and a 3rd at Penske the only options. Penske might make sense for Newman, given his success there, if he can bring sponsorship. It seems like Kurt has flirted with RCR for a while. I could see him taking a seat there, but he makes the sponsorship game harder. I'd love to see Monster get on board with a 4th JGR team. Imagine Hamlin, Kenseth, Busch, and Busch on JGR. That would be 4 of the top 7-8 drivers in the sport on same team.

NBC signs 10 year deal worth $4 billion to televise 20 races, 7 on NBC and 13 on NBCSN. They also pick up the rights to a lot of NW and other NASCAR events. Good riddance, TNT. Fox's deal, which was 7 years and for the first half of the season was $2.4 billion. That's a lot of money.

TheHammer24 wrote:NBC signs 10 year deal worth $4 billion to televise 20 races, 7 on NBC and 13 on NBCSN. They also pick up the rights to a lot of NW and other NASCAR events. Good riddance, TNT. Fox's deal, which was 7 years and for the first half of the season was $2.4 billion. That's a lot of money.

Surprised ESPN let themselves get outbid.

I don't know. Part of me wishes some of the flavor of the track controlling the rights (pre 2001) was still there. You always knew Daytona was on CBS. Wilkesboro and Bristol were ESPN. Some were TNN. ABC had some. NBC had Homestead. It's how radio is still handled (though it's either MRN or PRN, and most affiliates of one are affiliates of the other, except for Indianapolis, which has its own network)

shafnutz05 wrote:A bit of fireworks in the NW race last night....namely, Nelson Piquet, Jr. kicking Brian Scott in the jewels:

Spoiler:

Runs in the family..... his dad at the 1982 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim having a go at Eliseo Salazar for having the temerity of not getting out of his way fast enough. (In a time when backmarkers were not obliged to affirmatively yield to front runners as they are today.)http://youtu.be/1l9BGx3seT8

Regan Smith is the only name that pops out at me as a guy with Cup level experience that could fill in for Stewart. Both run Chevy, and both are affiliated with Hendrick -- JR Motorsports and SHR.

Re Sponsorship: I think the sponsors know what they are getting into. Stewart left JGR for ownership, in part, so he could race as he pleased. Recall Gibbs frowned upon it. The sponsors could certainly negotiate a no-weeknight-racing clause into their contracts, but there is no way Stewart would sign it.

Hammer, gotta agree with you on Regan Smith but could well be Allmendinger, who has been on again off again driver for the #51 of Phoenix Racing this year. Others that might make sense are not driving Chevys (like Elliott Sadler). Then again, it's Watkins Glen, so they could call in a ringer not otherwise committed. Said and Fellows are already in the event; Scott Pruett is not, but has always filled an extra Ganassi car in years past.

relantel wrote:Hammer, gotta agree with you on Regan Smith but could well be Allmendinger, who has been on again off again driver for the #51 of Phoenix Racing this year. Others that might make sense are not driving Chevys (like Elliott Sadler). Then again, it's Watkins Glen, so they could call in a ringer not otherwise committed. Said and Fellows are already in the event; Scott Pruett is not, but has always filled an extra Ganassi car in years past.

I keep associating Allmendinger with Ford and Penske, but you're right, he has driven the 51 several times this year, although he has also driven the 47. Perhaps AJ would make sense at the Glen, and Smith would make sense later. Also, don't forget Smith replaced Jr. last year.

Broken legs generally take 4-6 weeks to heal. I wonder if Stewart could get in and do a lap at some of these tracks to keep himself in the Chase---his one win could go a long way, and the Glen especially would allow such a move without going a lap down. Bristol and Richmond would not at all, though, and I think Stewart already said he was out this week. Sigh.

Truex Jr. and Newman turn into the biggest beneficiaries.

For the same reasons, this makes it much easier for the 55 team, who is currently ahead of Newman's 39 team, to make the Owners Chase.